Factsheet for measure
NO-2018-26/3540
– measures in Norway
Ban of fossil oil heating for households and other buildings
Forbud mot bruk av mineralolje til oppvarming av bygninger
Background information
Norway decided in 2018 to prohibit the use of mineral oil for heating buildings from 1 January 2020 onwards. The Storting requested the government in 2012 to ban the use of fossil oil for heating in households and other buildings by 2020, and a regulation was enacted in 2018, following a public consultation. The purpose of the regulation was to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases from heating buildings, while also making sure that energy security is not jeopardised.
Content of measure
The regulation introducing a ban on heating with mineral oil was adopted by the Ministry of Climate and Environment and the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy on 28 June 2018. The regulation was amended in 2021 to include the use of mineral oil for short-term heating and drying of buildings when they are being built or modified, and from 1 January 2022, it became prohibited to use fossil fuel-based oil for heating and drying on construction sites.
The government motivated the ban with the fact that it would lead to a reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases. Emissions from oil heating in homes and commercial buildings were 722,000 tons of CO2 in 2014, and a ban would give a significant yearly reduction. In addition, as a result of a faster phase-out of oil furnaces, it was expected that many buried oil tanks would be removed or secured against leakage, and that the removal or securing of oil tanks could contribute to preventing leaks and pollution in the ground in the future.
Use of measure
The measure took effect from 2020.
Target groups
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Workers
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Businesses
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Citizens
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Does not apply to workers
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Applies to all businesses
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Applies to all citizens
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Actors and funding
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Actors
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Funding
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National government
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No special funding required
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Social partners
Social partners' role in
designing the measure
and form of involvement:
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Trade unions
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Employers' organisations
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Role
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Consulted
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Consulted
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Form
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Any other form of consultation, institutionalised (as stable working groups or committees) or informal
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Any other form of consultation, institutionalised (as stable working groups or committees) or informal
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Social partners' role in the
implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:
-
No involvement
-
Main level of involvement: Peak or cross-sectoral level
Involvement
The social partners were invited to express their opinions during a public consultation process.
Views and reactions
The Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (NHO) supported a transition from oil products to alternative heating based on electricity in urban areas and biomass outside the cities. Concurrently, NHO emphasized the importance of ensuring reliable energy supply during this transition.
Sources
